The ROSS Summer School (www.rosssummerschool.co.uk) is an adults-only musical theatre summer school – its schools are a tremendous experience of concentrated theatricality, a place where it is easy to make friends for life.

I haven’t been able to participate in the school since 2009, but I still know many of the regular attendees. Today I went to their annual performance, where I saw extracts from Betty Blue Eyes, Urinetown and this, Sweeney Todd.

Now, I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. But if you are sitting in a barber’s chair, and the barber starts singing an extraordinarily complex but masterfully composed paean to his razors… get out of there. Quick.

The 350 mile round trip was also something of a paean to my car – a Niisan Qashqai+2 that will soon be moving on. More of that tomorrow.

Anyway, well done to all involved – I thoroughly enjoyed all three performances!